Cannibal music

[trof]

Early 90s and I'm in Tokyo for the first time.
I think it would be nice to bring home a tape of the plinky twangy native samisen music.
I stop in the local Seibu "depaato" store and walk back to the music section.
I tell the very pleasant young woman I'd like some typical samisen music.
"Ah, you like cannibal music?"
"Hunh? Cannibal music?"

(I remembered reading about the Ainu, sort of Japan's aboriginals. The folks who immigrated to Japan from China that took over the land in Ought-whatever-it-was treated them pretty badly, about like our Native Americans. Were the Ainu cannibals?)

"Is it Ainu music?" (I wasn't sure that's what I wanted.)
<much tittering and giggling>
"No, not Ainu. CANNIBAL music."
"Oh, OK. Could I hear some?"
"I play for you."
Well, it was just what I wanted.
"OK, thanks. I'll take it. I didn't know the Japanese had cannibals. Were these an ancient people? Did they pass their music to the modern Japanese?"
"No, have cannibals now. All the time."
"You have people who EAT people? I can't believe that."
"No no no no. KAHN-NEE-BAHL. You know...rolee coaster. Play game. Shoot at monkey?"
(native Japanese are virtually unable to pronounce the letter "V".)
"CARNIVAL music?"
"Yes, that's right. Cannibal music."

Ever had a similar experience where something got lost in the translation?

[trof]

1. this one, damnit

[arcane1]

2. ah, this one!

my guess would be because of all the debate threads going on around it

otherwise, pretty funny story :-)

I can relate to the thread-drop syndrome!

[trof]

3. It is kinda noisey in here.

But I'm still having fun.
;-)

[Interrobang]

4. My Japanese prof...

...used to talk about her "kaban" (briefcase) with the "fripping rid" all the time. She had a real trouble with l/r minimal pairs -- you know, the difference between "pail" and "pair," or "love" and "rove." :)